One month of Indians baseball is now in the books and considering the injuries and early issues, it has to be considered a success. Instead of looking at the group as a team, however, we will now break them apart and rank them all according to their production in the first month.
The first Power Rankings of 2016 was based on expectations, but this and all future rankings for the season will be based on results only. We will still keep track of those expectations and every player will receive a rating of “Above,” “Even” or “Below” comparing their actual results to what we thought would happen. In addition, each player will have an over/under to show how they moved compared to the original rankings.
1. Francisco Lindor – Above (+2)
I thought highly enough about Lindor to rank him third in the initial rankings and he has done nothing to disappoint this month. There is not an aspect of the game that Lindor does not dominate as he continues to be the Indians best defender, making a spectacular play or two seemingly every day, second best base runner (behind Davis with four steals in five tries) and one of the top hitters for average, ending the month at .293. If you can’t enjoy watching Lindor play, you are an old, jaded fool who derives pleasure from nothing.
2. Danny Salazar – Above (+2)
With Carrasco out and Kluber struggling, Salazar has been the Indians top pitcher so far this year, posting a 2.35 ERA in four starts. This also doesn’t appear to be some early season luck as he’s struck out 26 in 23 innings and allowed just a .139 average against. Salazar’s single problem this season has been his command, walking a team high 13, but it hasn’t been a significant problem in the past and should be an easily fixable issue for Salazar and Mickey Callaway. He could easily have been considered the number one player on this list, but Lindor’s defense gives him the edge.
3. Jason Kipnis – Even (+2)
While he hasn’t been May of 2015 Kipnis, Jason has still been a solid presence at the top of the Indians line-up and remains one of their most productive hitters. He has hit and slugged slightly higher than his career averages with a .274 and .450 mark in April and been solid on the bases with three steals (0 caught). While he isn’t the greatest defensive second baseman, he has been sure so far this year without a single error while playing every inning of the season at the second sack. A leader on and off the field, there are few on the team who can compare to Kipnis.
4. Corey Kluber – Even (-2)
As is usual, the Indians’ ace leads the team in innings (34) and strike outs (35) by a fairly large margin, but he has been far from the Indians top pitcher (4.24 ERA). His 1-3 record belies that to a point, although in three of five starts, he has allowed three or fewer runs and pitched at least seven innings, a quality start that should lead to a team win most of the time. He has already corrected most of the issues that caused his six run, nine hit outburst against the Mets, one of those being that he won’t have to face the Mets again until the World Series (or not at all).
5. Rajai Davis – Above (+6)
After watching Michael Bourn bumble around the outfield for the past three seasons, Davis might as well be Ricky Henderson. He’s stolen seven bases in ten attempts already and quite often has got into the pitcher’s head even when he isn’t looking to steal (or is he?). Even then, one time caught was on a pick off attempt where his foot came off the base after it looked like he had stolen second anyway and another would have been changed had it been reviewed. More than anyone else, Davis has lead the Indians renaissance in base running and has been pretty decent with the stick (.274/.323/.459) and in the field as well.
6. Jose Ramirez – Above (+10)
Probably the most surprising player in the first month was Ramirez, who not only became a regular starter and hit well enough to keep the job, but actually turned into a decent outfielder in only a couple weeks. While still no Gold Glover, Ramirez is competent enough in the outfield that Terry Francona has many more options for in game strategy than without him. While he tried to do this last year with Mike Aviles and it failed, Ramirez has already proven to be much more adaptable and fans should be generally worry free considering outfield defense.
7. Carlos Santana – Even (-1)
Your opinion of Santana’s April will vary greatly on your expectations, but if you’ve been watching the last few seasons, he’s right on target. If anything, he has put the ball in play more often, striking out significantly less than in previous seasons. He’s hit for a low average, some power and gotten on base more often than a normal .240 batter thanks to his nine walks. As a lead-off hitter, Santana looked more at home than anywhere else this year although it is yet to be seen how often he will be used in this role.
8. Zach McAllister – Above (+6)
While he did allow one run this April (oh, for shame!), McAllister has been the Indians best reliever when you combine his results with the situations he has been pitching in. Incredibly, four Indians relievers made it through the month without allowing a run, but none were used late in close games. McAllister is a perfect 3 for 3 in holds and has allowed just one run in 9.2 innings. With questions about Shaw and Allen, McAllister is more important than ever to the back end of the Indians bullpen.
9. Josh Tomlin – Even (+6)
If you want a starting pitcher who will go out every five days, give you five to six innings and allow one to two home runs per game, Tomlin is still your man. His 3.18 ERA in April ended up being the third best on the Indians (behind Carrasco and Salazar) and his three wins in three starts lead the team. He is last in strike outs among all six starters the Indians have used so far, but he has also allowed the fewest walks, pitching to contact as is his game. If he can keep this up all year, he will continue to be one of the better fifth starters in baseball and will have more than earned the two year extension he signed in Spring Training.
10. Tyler Naquin Above (+7)
While the Carrasco injury was devastating, two players individually benefited, Bauer as it meant a return to the rotation, and Naquin since he was likely going to be sent back to AAA if not for the freed roster spot. Had he been sent back, it would have been a shame as he has continued his hot Spring Training into a great April, batting .341 with two doubles, two triples and eight runs scored. He hasn’t looked perfect in the outfield, but like Ramirez, he has improved over the past month and should continue starting at least against right handed pitchers.
11. Marlon Byrd Above (+7)
The player most negatively affected by the returns of Chisenhall and Brantley from the DL was Byrd, who has quietly been one of the Indians best hitters early on. Batting .264 at the end of April, he has provided decent power (five extra base hits) and serviceable defense, catching everything that his not quite swift legs can get him to. While the truth is often ignored with preconceived notions being the excuse, the right handed Byrd has actually been a considerable better hitter against right handed pitchers this year than left and has been unquestionably better than Chisenhall, who is now getting those at bats, forcing Byrd into more situations against LHP where he has struggled some.
12. Mike Napoli – Even (-3)
While his numbers don’t show it, Napoli has consistently been putting up the best complete at bats in the Indians offense and provided generally excellent defense at first. He is batting just .205 though, and is already starting to show the significant splits that turned him into a full time platoon bat last year for Texas. Against LHP, he is batting .233/.324/.433 and against RHP just .188/.220/.396 and at some point, he may be of more value to the team as a part time player than full. Luckily, the Indians have Santana to play first and a whole bunch of outfielders who are scrambling for playing time that would be happy to DH.
13. Yan Gomes – Below (-5)
The Indians had high expectations for Gomes after a knee injury derailed his 2015 campaign, but he hasn’t quite been the middle of the lineup hitter they had hoped he would be to this point. He has knocked in 11, but this has more to do with opportunities than being particularly proficient at the plate and he ended the month batting .200/.221/.385.
14. Joba Chamberlain – Above (+8)
Four Indians relievers made it all the way through April without allowing a run and they certainly weren’t the ones we expected. Without giving too much credit to pitchers who have only thrown between five and six innings, each of Otero, Chamberlain and Manship have jumped up the rankings and rather than trying to decide who is the best (Otero based on K-Rate and average against), we’ll just clump them all together right here. As for Chamberlain, he has allowed just one hit, but struck out only two in 7 innings so far.
15. Dan Otero – Above (+9)
As someone who was originally against Otero making the team ahead of an extra outfielder like Joey Butler or an different reliever, like Crockett, I’ll easily admit I’ve been wrong so far. Otero has been among the Indians most dependable relievers, allowing no runs in 6.1 innings, striking out six while allowing just one walk and one hit. This can’t continue forever, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it while it lasts.
16. Jeff Manship – Above (+5)
While it’s difficult to tell how he does it at times, all Manship seems to do is to get outs without allowing runs to score. He has done so this year over his first six innings, allowing five hits and four walks. If Shaw continues to struggle during the season, there is a greater and greater chance of Manship finally seeing some more innings in important situations.
17. Cody Allen – Below (-10)
Unfortunately, a couple poor outings have blown up Allen’s ERA, but when it counts, he was perfect by saving seven games in seven chances. He has allowed few hits (.231 AVG), yet has given up eight runs in 10.1 innings, mostly thanks to three home runs. Chances are, things should start to even out for Allen and he will be back in the top half of the rankings by the end of May.
18. Juan Uribe – Below (-6)
The most disappointing of the Indians free agent signings so far this year, Uribe has still shown a lot of positives. The former short stop still has a slick glove at third base and incredible bat speed when he actually makes contact. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do that as often as would be preferred as he has struck out 12 times in just 53 at bats with only 11 hits. Making the problem worse, Giovanny Urshela isn’t hitting great in AAA either, so for now, expect to see a little more Ramirez at the hot corner.
19. Trevor Bauer – Below (-7)
Prior to the final day of the month, Bauer had been a decent arm in the bullpen and one of few pitchers who could be trusted over multiple innings. When he made his first start on April 30th, however, any positives from the rest of the month disappeared when he allowed three runs in four innings, bringing his season ERA to 5.28 in 15.1 innings. He shouldn’t be judged too harshly on this one appearance, however, as it was his first start of the year. With Anderson in AAA, he will almost certainly be in that spot until at least Carrasco returns from the DL.
20. Michael Brantley – Even (Unranked)
The Indians most recent offensive addition, Brantley took a moment to get readjusted to the Major leagues after his rehab assignment took him to AA and AAA, but he seems to have caught on fairly quickly. In five games, he has his first steal, RBI, double, run scored and has made some fine catches in left field.
21. Roberto Perez – Even (+0)
Santana may be famous for walking, but even he doesn’t do so every other at bat. Perez has played in very limited action this April thanks to an early concussion scare and a ton of off-days, but in his 14 plate appearances, six have resulted in walks and the rest have been solid at bats as well. He hasn’t hit safely yet, but has played excellent defense (0 passed balls, caught only attempted stealer) and if a batter can get on base nearly 50% of the time, it really doesn’t matter how he does it.
22. Kyle Crockett – Even (Unranked)
Crockett pitched in just 0.2 innings and has not allowed a base runner after being called up late in the month for Anderson. As such, it’s impossible to judge the young left hander, but this does serve a point in the rankings where every one above has provided a positive impact on the team while those below have been generally harmful to the team.
23. Tommy Hunter – DNP (Unranked)
In a similar measure to Crockett, Hunter pitched just one inning in April after being added for Detwiler on the 29th. In that appearance, he allowed one run on two bloop singles, but he ranks 23rd as he did not harm the team as much as the final two men on this list. Had Detwiler or Cowgill remained on the list, they also would have been ranked below a man who didn’t touch the ball until the final game of the month.
24. Lonnie Chisenhall – Below (Unranked)
Chisenhall only missed the first couple weeks of the season, but once he returned, he looked nothing like the Chisenhall we saw last August when he first took over right field. He has played poorly defensively and at the plate and subsequently already found himself in more of a bench role rather than the starting job it seemed he was guaranteed at the beginning of Spring Training. Byrd and Naquin, his main competitors for playing time, have hit considerably better than Lonnie while Chisenhall himself has struggled to the point where he is now at risk of being dropped from the roster once the Indians need a fifth starter.
25. Bryan Shaw – Below (-14)
Unquestionably the Indians most disappointing player during the first month was Shaw. While he does have a team high four holds, he has blown one lead and a few other tight situations. He finished the month with a 9.64 ERA, allowing a .308 average and ten runs in 9.1 innings. On a positive note, he has 13 strike outs and five of those runs came in one game where he was left in far too long against Chicago.
Removed
15 Day DL
Carlos Carrasco – Above (March Rank #1)
AAA
Collin Cowgill – Below (March #23)
Cody Anderson – Below (March #19)
DFA
Ross Detwiler – Below (March #25)
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